I'm still considering a 4x4 SMB (Ford E-350 EB) but am wondering about the engine....

Assuming that I want to stick w/ the gasoline engine (not diesel), and keeping in mind that my SMB will be a daily driver to/from work, and I'm not planning on doing any MAJOR off-road 4x4 driving (like you guys on the West Coast)....

I also won't be towing anything right away, but in the future I'd like to be able to tow one of those lighter-weight pop-up travel trailers, just as extra sleeping/storage space for when my three kids join us on a camping trip.

Hi Dave,
We had the same question before ordering our EB 350 4x4 SMB. We and other forum members thought that the V8 will be under-powered in the long run. For the MPG, the smaller V8 might require more gas to compensate for the extra weight. Hope this helps!

When we got our 2005 SMB 4x4, I believe Alan at SMB West told us they wouldn't do their 4x4 conversion on a V-8. The V-10 is a great motor having a ton of power, super quiet, decent mileage for this size vehicle, and comes with the same tranny as the diesel engine which has the "grade braking". This saves your brakes like you wouldn't believe.

If you were going 2WD and not loading it up, V8 might be ok. But 4WD? Appointed with even a basic 50 design with a few accessories + gear? Go V10. Its a torque monster, almost as good as the diesel, but the grunt comes at a higher RPM. Sure its thirsty, but smooth, reliable, quiet, and plenty strong.

I have owned a V8 5.4 Quigley RB 50 since 2001 and driven it for 60,000 miles. Traveling through much of the US and several parts of Mexico, it has never felt underpowered (family of four, lots of luggage, four bicycles, roof rack with roof box, solar panels, winch). With 4.11 gears and 285 BFGs I get about 13 mpg at 75 mph. Mileage in the city is of course worse, but the V10s are quite a bit worse yet in that situation.

Larry Yates at Quigley called me up before I ordered the van and told me that I was making the mistake of my life, but if you do the math, this rig really works. I have towed a 3000-4000 lbs U-Haul trailer from the East Coast to Texas without problems. A fairly boxy 5000 lbs camping trailer was still okay but less fun especially in strong head wind situations (I also had six passengers in the van, with an extra seat), but for such a setup a diesel is better anyway, especially if you care about the mileage.

Hey, can't compare because I don't own a V10 but I've got a V8 w/ 4X4, fully camperized and often carrying 2,000 pounds of sporting gear etc on long trips. Fully loaded she weighs in very heavy. 70mph on the interstates is about 13mpg, maybe a little better on the slower freeways in Mex. In the city she's a pig - I don't even think I get 10mpg. Power is definetely not an issue. Good kick to pass and I will always be limited by traction or clearance while off-raod - never by power. I"ve driven V10 F350 4X4s in forestry and they were very limited by lack of range compared to the V8s of which the rest of our fleet was comprised.
Hope this helps. Good luck.